5.3 Reactions of Phenols

LEARNING GOALS

After   Chapter 5.3,    you will    be  able    to:

Recall  the process for production  of  quinones    and hydroxyquinones

Identify    the properties  of  ubiquinone  that    allow   it  to  function    as  an  electron    carrier:

Reactions of phenols proceed in similar fashion to reactions of alcohols. However, as discussed
previously, the hydrogen in the hydroxyl group of phenols is particularly acidic because the oxygen-
containing anion is resonance-stabilized by the ring.

QUINONES AND HYDROXYQUINONES

Treatment of phenols with oxidizing agents produces compounds called quinones (2,5-
cyclohexadiene-1,4-diones), as shown in Figure 5.12.